Here is a link to a survey that asks for opinions to proposed fishing regulations. Feel free to comment. Included are 2 regulations that are related to crappie. Thanks.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2015FishRegs
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Here is a link to a survey that asks for opinions to proposed fishing regulations. Feel free to comment. Included are 2 regulations that are related to crappie. Thanks.
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/2015FishRegs
Just completed the survey, Matt. Thanks for putting that link up so we could all participate. I voted for the 10" length limit on black and white crappie, a statewide creel limit for crappie of 20 or 25 (I think 30 is too many) and for outlawing the use of yo-yo's on Lake Conway, even though they didn't give me the option on the last one! I'm starting a grass roots campaign on that one and encourage every one of my fellow Crappie.commers to voice your opinion on that at the end of the survey. They give you a blank area at the end to bring up anything that wasn't covered. So here's your chance!
Just finished here. A state wide limit of 20 would be fine except in certain lakes. Charles comes to mind. I suppose you could set a statewide and then have specific lake regs.
Just put my 2cents in for what is worth !!!!! 25 state wide limit and 10" state wide length limit for me.
Took it. I would like to see a 25 statewide limit. I have to disagree with the discontinuing yoyo fishing on the lake Conway. What I really think is it needs to be enforced better than it currently is being done. Tickets would curfew a lot of folks.
I believe a 10 inch limit would be good for sure and a 25 limit would be fine with me as well.Also the degray slot needs to be removed it seems.Ive fished that lake alot since the early 90s and the past couple years it has really fell off for largemouth.Not sure what is going on but it has definetly changed for the worse.Definitely some good issues to be looked at..nice work D10
Limit use of yoyos to cut or dead bait for catfishing only. Yes on the 30 Crappie limit except for lakes like Dardanelle where we have quality fish and 20 is enough. No length limit needed on lakes like Nimrod.
Thanks guys for filling this out and adding your comments.
We really do appreciate it!!
CASTINnBLASTIN,
There is definitely something going on at Degray. The loss of vegetation has had a big impact on that lake.
I agree mojorig..we used to catch some big sacks down there up until the grass disappeared.Im sure alot of people still catch some good ones down there but the numbers of 6 lbers from all of my fishing buddies has decreased bigtime.What happened to the grass Ive heard all kinds of stories on it the past several years?
Ouachita was the same way until they killed off the coon tail with the flys.
I've heard a lot of rumors about the grass. I am guessing it was a combination of Pakistan fly knocking the amount of vegetation back then water level fluctuation, water clarity, and natural variability of the vegetation finishing it off. Again, that is merely speculation on my part.
10" limit would hurt more lakes than it would help. Rules like that should always be lake specific. $.02 Did vote for yellow bass to be listed as rough fish and no longer sport fish. Wish they would do the same for white bass.
I agree with that.Nothing better than coontail for growing big largemouth!
Thanks mojorig.I wonder if theres an answer for this anywhere?
Just put my 2cents in for what is worth !!!!! 25 state wide limit and 10" state wide length limit for me. Ditto...
My vote is for banning YOYO's too.
This is correct. Minimum length limits only improve a fishery in certain conditions. It would hurt a lot of lakes.Quote:
Originally Posted by Speed trout
X2, amen brother. Enforcing the current regs would also generate revenue for the G&F, at least until the people that are violating them got tired of paying the fines. Then everybody would be happy. Well, almost everybody.Quote:
Originally Posted by arkansasbowhunter
Too big of an area to cover and too many violations to enforce. Game Wardens have allot better things to do than run around the lake checking yoyo's all day. Get rid of yoyo's and watch the crappie pole fishing explode in those trees even better than what we have now. I would love to see a limb line, yoyo free, Lake Conway just think how much more fun it would be to pole fish around those trees without having to work around all the old yoyo's, limb lines, Trot lines rebarb, boards nailed to the tree and God only knows what else folks pound/tie onto those live cypress trees. It's crazy if you ask me. Enforcement will work for a bit, but after that... the Game Wardens will move onto bigger and better things and violations will run abound again. Has'nt Conway seen enough natural and man made abuse the last few years. Why not get rid of them or heck let's just start allowing Gill nets. If three guys go out with 30 yoyo's apiece that's 90 yoyo's from just one boat...LOL stop the insanity.
DeGray and Ouachita used to be two great crappie lakes. When the moss was killed, crappie are feeding the hybrids on DeGray and the stripers on Ouachita. Crappie numbers have declined greatly. I don't know who is responsible for killing the moss, but they really did a disservice to us crappie fishermen.
To each his own. ... you buncha dang yo-yo's. If you don't like em cut em down and don't tell. ..state wide length is stupid specific.
If people are bold enough to break the current laws, isn't it a little naive to think all of the limb-lines and yo-yos will just magically disappear if a new one is created? There is one reason why the problem has gotten so far out of hand, no enforcement. CP, you said it yourself, the wardens dont have time to check yo-yos, and they will only enforce them for a short time. So why would you expect them to enforce a new law any more vigorously? It may slow for a time, then once they realize nothing has changed, they will be back at it. Whether they ban em or keep em, the success depends on one thing, enforcement. If they are ran properly, they wont cause you any problems while fishing anyway.
Now that's the truth especially the last statement. Their having a ban the trollers party on the sippi board and I just don't understand why can't everyone let people do it the way they want? Just think if they take away these other methods (which have been legal for umpteen yrs.)how much fun it would be jockeying around the other single poling folks that may very well be on you're treeline or you're favorite brushpile. When if you would've left it alone they would still be out in the middle leaving you prime fishin around the banks!
Do you unerstan da words comin outta my mouf?
ban them dadgum thangs seen several while i was out today with dead fish hanging from em, crappie and catfish,this kind of stuff really peeeees me off, when will it end?
Finished
Done
Guy's enforcement is a dream...we all know this when it comes to the yoyo issue. But when it is written in the AGFC Reg's that YoYo's or Limbline's are illegal to use period on Lake Conway... then we will see results. Folks are allot less likely to use them if they know they are not allowed period to use or possess them. This will allow the Game Wardens to more easily enforce the Maylay we have going on out there right now. Post signs at the ramps also.
There was a recent pic posted of a beautiful two pound crappie left to rot on a YoYo recently and left for the turtles. This happens all the time on Conway. No matter what you think about the enforcement issue...it's not too naïve to think this should be more than enough evidence for you to Ban YoYo's.
They just banned limb lines at lake washington! !!!! Hope yo yos are next! !!!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by arkansasbowhunter
J.W., I could live with it like it is if they would enforce the regs on use of yo-yos, but they can't, or won't. I don't have a bit of problem with yo-yos when used according to the regulations, but they aren't by many people, and they are ruining it for those who are law abiding and use them properly. A few years of seeing fish hanging for 2 or 3 days, dried out or eaten by turtles will turn you against using them. I have said many times on this forum that the problem is not with the law, or the regs. In my opinion it is an enforcement problem. And I understand all the problems with that too, money, personnel, etc. But I've also said I would rather see one less visitor center in the state and use that money to beef up the enforcement ranks, and start vigorously enforcing violations and hurt the violators in their pocketbook for awhile and I think it would stop most of the violations we see almost daily on Lake Conway. Again, I have no problem with the proper and lawful use of them, it's the improper use of them in violation of the law that bothers me. And if they can't or won't enforce the regulation, then just outlaw them altogether. Just my :twocents.
What He Said^^^^^^
Agree to disagree. I guess we will see what happens. If that is the only way to get the problem taken care of, then go for it, I just hope it works. I grew up running yo-yos on Conway, but I am kinda partial to the thump these days, so I havent hung one in years. I would just hate to see them banned due to lack of enforcement. Kind of like throwing the dishes in the trash cuz you're too lazy to wash em.
Point well taken, Chris, and there are good points on each side of this discussion. I also have hung a few in my day, but they were properly labeled with my name and phone number on them, I hung what was allowed, and stayed with them, or if I left them, I got up before daylight and took them and the fish up. If everyone did that, I'd have no problem whatsoever with their use. But you know the type I'm talking about. The guy whose photo you posted on here yesterday. That's what gets me riled.
Took the survey and I'm for a state wide creel limit of 20 or 25 and length limit of 10"...that's plenty for any individual
Did the survey. I think 30 is too much, I'd rather see 20 or 25 even though I'm currently in the 30 zone. 10" length should not apply to all lakes, too many lakes overpopulated as it is with smaller fish. They are not going to get bigger if you cant lower the population.
Yo Yo's. Touchy subject on here. I use the about 4 to 5 times a year for crappie. Use them twice that for cats. Mine have reflective tape, I count them, they have my current LPN on them, I do not leave them unattented for more than 30 minutes to an hour. Even then, I'm close enough to hear them go off. I understand some lakes like conway have a problem. Lets compare apples to apples, those of you that want them banned, do you really think people will stop using them if they are already breaking the law now? If so, do you favor gun control, or have you thought criminals will just keep being criminals....
Be careful banning certain types of fishing, next thing you know someone will complain about the trollers/spider rigging boats and they will be banned also... As a hunter, I've seen this happen too many times. Once that door is open.... I firmly believe that you will get further by contacting game wardens, get to know them, get their number, call them when you find something illegal, especially if they are marked properly. I'm good friends with a local game warden Tracey Blake. I'd bet you I could call him at 3am to report something and he would be there in under an hour. AGFC does not have enough wardens, while it may not be our job, it is certainly up to us to help ourselves by helping them.
my 2 cents, worth about as much as anyone else's.
My 2 cents ... When did Conway become a crappie fishing only lake? You think it's a good crappie lake , it's an even better flathead lake. It's just "most" ppl don't know how to catch them. I personally limblined hard for a entire month and let me tell ya more work goes into limb lining than crappie fishing ever thought of having.
During this month of limb lining we fished about 75 hooks a day , give or take a few from the channel cat twisting them up. But for evey hook I set out , when we were done fishing we picked back up and brought them home. Every morning we were one of the first boats on the water checking our lines before the sun has risen and then one of the last boats to come off the water in the evening from baiting. This meaning every hook I had out got lifted twice a day whether anyone seen me on that tree or not I was there. As far as cutting down ppls lines , I never cut a one unless it was growed up with moss and a rusted out hook , then I cut it dropped it in my boat and took over the tree. I'm glad I didn't have a problem with anyone cutting my lines bc it wouldn't take much for me to stake the culprit out and pull that ruger blackhawk out from under the steering console and sink a boat from underneath them. Homie don't play games .
My opinion is that the real problem with the yoyos and limblines left hanging is from the residents that live on the lake and just want to fish on the weekends or whenever they feel like it . I'm not saying its only the residents cause lord knows it ain't but the vast majority starts there.
This again in my opinion if the "concerned" fisherman feels that there is a problem out on the water with a specific group of yoyo/limblines then shouldn't it be left at contacting the proper officials? I mean if its a fish hanging and been hanging the entire day you were out there ... .... ... Take it off! I've ran trot lines in gf and put them out in the morning with no bait then leave go catch a bunch of bream and came back and took fish off hooks . One time it happened to be a 40+ lb blue cat. They will hit bare hooks ESP in muddy water with a shiny hook , so there's always the chance that the fish in question wasn't there when the lines were ran that morning. So would this warrant someone to cut ten yoyos and cost someone twenty bucks ??? I don't think so if they were mine somebody would get their head thumped real quick. I would much rather know someone took my fish then cut my lines and get into my wallet bc when you start costing me money I will cost you a dentist appt , I don't mind taking teeth.
And if these methods of fishing are outlawed I suggest we outlaw anything but single poling . I'm a firm believer I'm a good enough fisherman to feed my entire family from one rod why does someone need 4,6,8.
Maybe just have a Conway cleanup day and go take down all illegal devices and turn em into the wardens. 20 boats can cover a lot of water and patrol the lake. Sometimes ya gotta take things into your own hands and help out. Enforcement for a stump ridden lake that is difficult to maneuver around in just proves to be difficult IMO. 2 wardens in a boat in hat lake would have a heck of a day covering the whole lake. Just saying.
I don't feel comfortable saying my opinion on most of the controversial subjects around here. I know my opinions on fishing aren't shared by many who are way better at this than I am.
But until the law changes, these are all just internet discussions. Nothing wrong with that, of course!!! But when it comes to hunting and fishing laws, I've found that opinions are like elbows and ***holes, everyone has one or two. I do too. But.......we don't get to make up our own laws. There's a process for changing them.
Is a fish left on a yo yo that feeds a turtle better or worse than one you jerked the swallowed hook out of and chunked back??? There are many people equally fervent about yo-yo's, limblines, spider rigging, alabama rigs, and even fishing tournaments. Lots of people that care deeply for fish and game have very varied opinions on some things. Just my two cents.
But it irks me too to see unattended dead fish...........especially ones that I can't seem to catch!
Lol!! KCM, you are a trip man. Keep in mind that we are talking about lines and yo-yos that are illegally set and not properly marked. What you describe is legal for the most part. No problem there, as far as I am concerned.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kayakcrappieman
To your comment about hitting people in the pocket book, isnt that the purpose of the game wardens writing tickets? The other day, I fished the same group of trees that had all of the dead fish hanging a few days before, and guess what? All of the yo-yos had been replaced, but every single one of them were marked properly. Within 5 minutes of me showing up in the spot a boat loaded down with three people pulled up giving me the stink eye. I had my paddle in hand, but they never said a word. They just took off the three fish that were hanging and went about their business. I wasnt intimidated, and if they slip up they will be cut again.
Oh I completely agree with taking out the illegal devices (not properly labeled) and the lines that are nasty and hadn't been fished in forever , I think it should be illegal to leave any hook/line unattended for over a week, but that all comes back to how do you prove the last time it was baited ... But I would hate to see ppl like you dealt with ruin something for ppl like me that go about it 100% legal from the word go.
Anyways I didn't mean to offend anyone just offering a different perspective we all know what's right and what's wrong and leaving baited lines unattended ain't right
Y'all keep smoking them big slabs and I'm a shut up and go back to being a trip!!!
My 2 cents!! Cut all those beautiful Cypress trees(no telling what they are worth) (more than fishing will ever pay for) that we will never again see in our lifetime!! out of the lake and stock Hybrid stripers,Trout, add water ski area"s and allow Fly fishing equipment and artifical lures only!!! Would not have to worry about YO-YO's and limb lines or the Game wardens protecting it!! Have only been on conway once the most Beautiful lake I have every been on!!( Greers Ferry is my home lake)(we do have cypress trees) A crown Jewel( D-10) water ever it takes to protect it for our Grandkids to enjoy!!! Gets my vote!!